Expansion joint



Oct. 23, 1934. E. E. HALL ET AL 1,978,305

EXPANSION JOINT Filed Feb. 23. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 23, 1934. E. E HALL ET AL 1,978,305

EXPANSION JOINT Filed Feb. 25, 1933 2 Smeets-Sheet 2 mi r L. i w LL- 0 Patented ocr. 23, 193.4v

EXPANSION JOINT Eric E. Hall, Chicago,a.nd William H. Echelman,

Des Plaines, Ill.; Eichelman said Hall assigner to said Application February 23, 1933, Serial No. 657,978

40 Claims.

Our present invention relates to improvements in expansion joints for monolithic concrete construction, precast slabs and the like, as shown `and described in United States Letters Patent 1,958,391 cn the same subject, filed August 12,

1932, Serial Number 628,576, and issued May 8,`

1934, embodying in its construction a member constructed to form what is termed a hair pin fold. This invention likewise has for its object the provision of a joint which when placed between two adjacent slabs or sections will compensate for the expansion and contraction' of the sections and still eiectively join these and allow of their independent linear movement, at the same time sealing the connection between the slabs against the entrance of foreign matter such as dirt, water, or ice.

It is a further object to provide a. relatively fragile connection between the hair pin fold of the joint and the stool supporting the fold or seal, to permit of the severing of this connection in case of excess strain due either to contraction or expansion of the respectiveslabs; and

To provide means for denitely locking and securingthe joint in place prior to the pouring of the slabs, by aflxing the ends thereof to the road rail, or curb forms now used in the building of concrete pavements; and

To provide' an end seal which will prevent the concrete mortar from entering the ends of the expansion joints to `such an extent that it might interfere with their effectiveness of operation; and

To provide a yielding spacer for stiiening the base of the hair pin fold against'collapse during the time of pouring the concrete, which spacer will yield under the resultant strains of expansion and contraction set up in the slabs; and

To provide a like spacer or yielding brace to prevent the collapsingv of the stool under similar conditions; and

To provide for load transmission between the twoslabs to prevent the load being carried upon 45 the hair pin fold itself; and

To make provision for increasing the edge thickness of a road bed or slab in conjunction with the joint; and

To provide for the assembling of the hair pin 50 fold or seal to a pre-moulded strip of iibre matrix and bitumen, to replace the metallic stool support for the hair pin fold as previously shown and described; and

To provide for flexibility in the expansion joint 55 itself so that the joint may be exed to accom- Y road is to be increased;

modate the parabolic curve of a road bediand To provide for the sealing of the slabs from both sides as in the case .of water tight compartments where it is to be denitely established that water or like substances may not enter from one compartment to the other; and further To provide for shop fabricated connections for the strip such as standard crosses, Ts, elbows, etc., which will eliminate such detail exacting work in the field and permit of their easy assembly in the field.

We have the foregoing objects in mind, and others as will be more specifically pointed out in the following specification and appended claims and as illustrated by the structures shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is an isometric View of a. section of the expansion joint;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the closure for the open end of such joint;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the hair pin fold and its connection to the stool taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a like section taken through the yielding spacer between the walls of the fold taken 30 on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical fragmental section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 showing the end closure illustrated 85 in Fig. 2 applied to the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail elevation of the expansion joint shown locked in place against the standard form, side-rail, or curb form of a road;

Fig. 8 is a like view showing the extension or shoe employed when the edge thickness of the Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the expansion joint and road lslabs showing in detail the load transmission features of this joint;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing the application of the hair pin fold to a strip of pre-moulded fibre matrix m0 and bitumen, replacing the metallic stool as heretofore shown;

Fig. 11 is a like section through a modified form of joint where the hair pin fold 'is employed at both top and bottom or front and rear to eiect a double seal;

Fig. 12 is a like section through a similar joint further modified;

Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section through a concrete road with the side rails or curb forms no in place, the concrete to the left of the center line being removed for purposes of clearnessto show the expansion joint exed or curved to conform to the parabolic curve of the road section;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a connection for the expansion joint in the form of a cross, with a l parts throughout the respective views.

It is appreciated and generally recognized that in construction work involving either monolithic or precast concrete, stone and like materials, that expansion and contraction take place developing a definite unrestrained movement; that expan- ,sion joints placed at pre-determined intervals throughout such a structure elimiate, to a large extent, the rupturing and ultimate destruction of the structure.

Work of this type embodies and involves many different forms and types of construction, including roadways and roadbeds, buildings, vats, swimming pools, sewage disposal plants, water treating plants, fountains, and many other structures and equipment too numerous to4 here mention. Therefore, for purposes of description only, we elect to describe ourinvention in its specific relation to floor slabs and concrete road construction.

The expansion joint, when placed at intervals transverse to the edge of the road, comprises a flexible strip, preferably of copper, bent back upon itself to form a hair pin fold or seal with inclined sides 20, terminatingand formed outwardly into a shoulder 21, and then inwardly and down forming walls 22, thence outwardly at an acute angle to form laterally extending webs or flanges 23, which are perforated at intervals with oblong slots or apertures 24.

Supporting the copper fold just described is a metallic stool comprising two vertical wall members 25, which extend up into the hair pin fold as shown and have clips or tongues 26, punched from the wall structure 25, which clips 26, register with alternate apertures 24, and extend outwardly serving as a support tothe members 23, and are then bent back upon themselves over the web to form and attach themselves thereto.

At suitable intervals between the clips 26, and likewise punched from the walls 25, are additional tongues 27, which are in turn bent inwardly to impinge upon and against the opposite wall of the stool, preferably at points above the plane of the web 23 and within the confines of the hair pin fold.

Interposed between the walls 25-25, and below the tongues 27 is positioned a serpentine strip 28 of flexible material, partially semi-circular in cross section-the edges of which position and bear against the inner surfaces of the walls 25-25.

The metallic stool above described, comprises the wall members 25-25, which terminate in feet, or members 29, bent outwardly at right angles to the wall 25. Tying together and connecting the feet 29 is a transverse strip or base 30 which is flanged over the outer edges of the feet 29 and seamed, thus definitely positioning the feet. The base 30 is crimped upwardly midway between the walls 25-25 at 31.

A wooden moulding 32, rectangular in cross section, rabbeted to conform to the`shape and contour of the hair pin fold, is placed over the fold as shown (Fig. 1) so that the two legs 33-33 formed by the rabbeting rest upon the shoulders 21-21 of the joint.

The closure for the open end of the expansion joint consists in a plate 34, the metal of which is drawn to form a well 35 to which is aiilxed a pair of spring clips 36-36 adapted to register and lock into a corresponding lip and. resultant aperture 37 punched from the wall 25 of the metal stool.

Sliding upon the under side of the base 30, is an anchor plate 38, the outer edges of which are flanged around and over the crimped edges of the base 30, allowing of' a sliding movement being imparted to the anchor clip 38 for purposes hereafter described.

In addition to the anchor just described, a metallic shoe 39, substantially rectangular in cross section, is likewise slid over the crimped edges of the base 30 in a similar manner, and as shown (Fig. 8) for the purposes, as will later be set forth.

vIn order that the steel reinforcement of the consecutive slabs 44 and 45 may extend through` and beyond the expansion joint and into the adjacent slab, and thus serve to transmit the load from 44 to 45, we provide an expansible threaded sleeve 40 locked to the walls 25-25 and establishing an aperture therethrough.

The expansible sleeve 40 serves the additional purpose of that of a spreader or lock to space the parallel walls 25-25 of the stool and assist in the prevention of the collapsing of these walls during the pouring of the concrete.

To this sleeve is amxed the open end of a cylindrical shell 4l, the opposite end being sealed.

Spaced back from the sealed end, a relatively short distance, is a yielding abutment or stop 42, against and to which the end of the reinforcing steel bar 43, impinges and is locked in place, forming a frictional contact which will-hold the reinforcing member temporarily in place during the pouring of the concrete. It must be appreciated, however, that the forces set up by the expansion of the respective slabs will completely destroy any frictional contact between the reinforcing rod 43 and the shell 41 by means of the stop 42 to the extent that the rod will move within and relatively to the shell. Whereas the drawings show a single stop 42, it can be readily appreciated that one or more additional stops angularly arranged may be employed. Generally the shells 41 are alternated, first on one side,`

then the other, so that the reinforcing steel from each of the two slabs may uniformly extend through and into the next adjacent slab.

The installation and operation of the expansion joint and its appurtenances heretofore described is as follows:-

The finished grading of the road 46 is first accomplished. 'I'he side rails or road forms 47 secured in place (Fig. 13). Then at predetermined intervals, preferably 26 to 30 feet, sections of expansion joints are set in place. These sections are in one piece and extend from face to face of the forms 47-47. The end closures 34 rst having been put in place, the strips are then locked by means of the anchor clip 38, which is slid under the form as shown in Fig. 7, thus preventing the expansion joint to raise or iioat out of place during the pouring of the road. Due to the light and relatively loose construction of the joint including the hair pin fold or seal and its assembly to the stool, the strip of joint is readily flexible and definitely conforms to the contour, or parabolic curve of the road surface desired (Fig. 13). The wooden moulding 32, is left in place (Fig. 1); the flanges 23-23 permitted to extend outwardly as shown; the concrete poured in slabs 114-45, one on each side of the joint (Fig. 9) either at separate intervals, or both slabs may be poured at the same time. The top of the moulding 32 will then act as a screed against or to which the workman v:nishes the concrete surface. When the concrete has set up.' the moulding is removed, thus leaving an opening between the slabs,`which opening is cleaned out and then filled, preferably with a bitumastic or hot pitch or tar preparation 48, which will adhere to the surface of the concrete and the hair pin fold or seal and thus effect a water tight seal between l the abutting edges of the slabs. l

The construction of the stool which acts no only as a support for the hair pin fold, but also as a form against which the concrete is poured, establishes anl air space or cushion between the slabs, and the end closures 34 seals this air space at each end during the pouringV of the concrete. After the concrete has once set, the ultimate corrosion or destruction of the stool does not effect the continued functioning of the joint, and as the end closures are only clipped in place, they may be renewed at will, or the open ends sealed in an approved manner which will prevent dirt or other foreign matter entering the air space and interfering with the proper functioning of the joint, which is as followsz As the slabs move, due either to expansion or contraction, the entire joint either increases or decreases in breadth, and as the flanges 23-23 are permanently anchored to the adjacent slabs 44-45 by means of a positive bond made through the apertures 24, the hair pin fold or seal will breathe; that is, flex either'in or out, to accommodate the movement of the slabs without in any way impairing or destroying the seal effected by the hair pin fold.

We have found that in the pouring of the concrete, the joint being of very light gauge metal, may tend to collapse due to carelessness on the part of the workmen, or due to the heavy road building machinery now in use. The construction must not be heavy or rigid as this will defeat our aim tohave the entire joint flexible, so that it may be made to conform to the contour of the road bed, and also so that in case it should be subjected to abuse` and become temporarily deformed, it will Ayield and then return toits normal position and shape prior to the setting up of the concrete. Therefore, to provide for this, we have rst of all provided for a relatively fragile connection between the hair pin fold and the stool. The clips 26 are of relatively small cross section and will shear. The tongues 27 will yield due to their springlilce construction. The serpentine strip 28 is flexible and will yield under undue pressure, and the base 30, crimped at 31, still further permits of a yielding movement. All of which, taken either jointly or separately, assist the joint to function properly even under adverse conditions or abuse.

In road construction today, the specifications often call for the edge or shoulder of the road to be increased in thickness beyond that of the middle or central' section. And as it is desirable to fabricate the expansion joint including the stool, in standard sections of uniform height or depth (although We do not choose to so limit ourselves) and in order to meet these specifications, we have shown (Fig. 8) a shoe 39, which -may be affixed to the base 30, of the stool as described. The shoe takes the shape of the increased edge thickness desired and `serves as an extension to the stool at that point, so that the joint is effectively carried through the full depth of the slab regardless of the change in cross section.

As one form of modification of the hair pin fold and metallic stool construction, as above set forth, we desire to submit the construction illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, which illustrates the typical hair pin fold affixed toa strip of premoulded fibre matrix and bitumen 50, by means of cleats 51, affixed to the anchors 23 in a manner and like form to those previously described. ',Ihe premoulded strip `in this case taking the place of the fabricated metallic stool, to establish a definite break and a compressible chamber or member between the adjacent slabs.

As illustrated in the drawings, especially Figs. l and 9, the parallel walls 25-25 of the stool form whatwe term an air cushion between the two adjacent slabs 44 and 45; again, at Fig. 10 of the drawings we show a strip of pre-moulded fibre matrix and bitumen 50, which as heretofore described, serves a similar purpose to the stool and air cushion.

We now wish to include the combination of these two elements as shown in Fig. 16. In other words, thestrip of pre-moulded ller 50 may be inserted between the parallel walls 25-25 of the stool so that it does not extend above the plane of the webs 23. The insertion of such a strip serves the purpose of preventing the collapsing of the walls of the structure during the pouring of the concrete; and after the concrete has set and then expanded the pressure of the slabs against the stool and, therefore, against the strip of pre-moulded fibre, would cause the fibre to be compressed and at the same time extended vertically into the hair pin fold. We fully appreciate, however, that this fibre would not resume its former shape subsequent to the expanding of the respective slabs, but as the filler has already served its purpose, this function may be ignored.

A further modication of the hair pin fold and metallic stool construction rst described is shown at Fig. 11 of the drawings. Here the typical hair pin fold is employed on both sides of the joint, either top and bottom or front and rear; being spaced from one another and affixed in this relationship by means of a spacer, having parallel Walls (S0- 60, and like cleats 61, as before, secured to the anchors 23 in a manner and like form to those previously described. This construction is perhaps more applicable to wall structures, wherein it is highly desirable to seal the joint from Qboth sides, to insure against the passage of water 'or other liquids from one chamber to another.

A still further modification disclosed by Fig. l2, is the placing of two hair pin folds back to back, and the omission of the spacer. The laterally extending anchors 23a of one abutting those designated 23b of the other, the ends 23b being extended and crimped back upon the other to effect a water tight seal. This construction is now used in precast work, where the wall sections are relatively thinner than those employed in monolithic construction. e

In the construction of swimming pools, water treating plants and the like, large areas are concreted to form the bottoms, often extending to 200 feet in one direction and 300 feet in the other.

Experience teaches us that these large areas must be broken up into relatively small sections not to exceed thirty feet in either direction. This makes it necessary to run the expansion joints in both directions, and as these areas are often times irregular in shape, the expansion joints likewise must run and intersect at various angles, and take various forms and shapes. Therefore, as we said before, in an endeavor to standardize the expansion joint for quantity production, we prefer to make it up into straight runs of commercial lengths. And where the joints intercept one another, we provide standard connections as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The connector made in the form of a cross, elbow or T, is substantially of the same construction as the joint itself; that is, the stool and hair pin fold are either cut and soldered in the shop, or formed to that particular contour necessary; assembled as such and shipped to the job as a unit. When placed, the joint is brought up to and abuts the ends thereof. These ends of the hair pin fold only, are then soldered together; or, as shown (Figs. 14 and 15) a separate piece 70, or short section of the hair pin fold is clipped over the abutting ends and its respective ends soldered to the joint and connector.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An expansion joint comprising the combination of a hairpin fold, consisting of a piece of resilient material bent back upon itself to provide spaced walls movable in relation to each other within said space and from said bend, each of said walls having an outwardly extending iiange at the lower termination thereof providing means for forming a bond between said anges and material in which said flanges are adapted to be embedded; a stool for supporting said fold,'and a screed supported by said fold; said stool consisting of a body comprised of a yieldable mass of material.

2. An expansion joint comprised of a seal and a stool therefor, the seal being formed of a piece of metal bent to form relatively movable side walls, a flange extending outwardly from each of said side walls, each of said side walls having a shoulder, the shoulders being located in a plane intermediate the bend and the plane of the ilanges, the stool being comprised of spaced walls, and a body comprised of a yieldable mass of material enclosed within said walls and being capped by said seal.

3. An expansion joint comprising the combination of a seal, a stool for supporting said seal, and a screed supported by said seal; locking means for locking said seal in place to the stool,

said locking means being comprised of a coop-- erating tongue and opening respectively formed in said stool and seal which unlock under undue strain and permit the seal to become detached from the stool without affecting the function of the seal.

4. In a device of the kind described the combination of a sealing member and a support therefor, said sealing member having side walls connected with each other to ilex at the connection, a portion of the support being located between said side walls of the flexible sealing member and said portion being formed to provide means cooperating with said flexible portion of the sealing member to prevent flexing of said sealing member.

5. In a device of the kind described the combination of a seal having a flexible portion and a support therefor, said supportbeing comprised of spaced side walls, the ilexible seal being mounted upon one edge of said side walls and having the flexible portion thereof arranged above and across the space between said side walls, said support providing means preventing flexing of the flexible portion of said seal and relative movement of said side walls of said support.

6. In a device of the kind described the combination of a seal having a flexible portion and a support therefor, said support being comprised of spaced side walls, the flexible seal being mounted upon one edge of said side walls and having the flexible portion thereof arranged above and across the space between said side walls, said support providing means preventing and permitting flexing of the iiexible portion of said seal and relative movement of said side walls of said support.

7. In a device for sealing a space and connecting adjacent ends of slab sections, the combination of a flexible seal, a stool for the seal and a member mounted upon and extending longitudinally of said seal, said stool having a portion located within the seal and having means for preventing exing of said seal and said seal having a portion arranged in said member and capping said stool.

8. In a-device of the kind described the combination of a seal and a support for the seal, said seal being comprised of a member formed to provide spaced side walls, and a flange extending outwardly from each side wall, said support having portions which are located between said side walls of said seal and respectively engage the inner faces of the walls of said seal, one of said last mentioned portions having an element extending therefrom into functionally operative relation with a wall of said stool to thereby maintain said walls of said seal in spaced relation to each other.

9. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising `a. stool consisting of a pair of spaced walls, a flexible seal joining the upper edges thereof, a base to afford a stand for said .of the concrete, said means extending across the space between the walls of said stool and positioned within the seal between the upper and lower coniines of said seal.

11. An expansion joint comprising in combination, a seal having spaced walls, and a stool for supporting the seal, said stool having spaced walls, a reinforcing member punched from the lill@ lill:

material of one of the walls of said stool for maintaining the walls of said seal in spaced relation, a locking element formed from the upper termination of the walls of said stool providing means for afilxingsaid stool to said seal, the --1' walls of said seal closing the openings resulting Lin ing means for securing said seal to adjacent slab sections, said stool having locking members engaging the seal for locking said seal and stool in associated relation, and said stool having re inforcing means extending into the seal and preventing the movement of the walls of said seal relative to the walls of the stool and thereby preventing'the premature unlocking of said locking members.

13. An expansion joint comprised of a seal and a stool for the seal, the seal having means for anchoring said .seal to adjacent slab sections, said stool having a locking element punched from the material forming the walls of the stool and cooperating with the seal for locking said seal and stool in associated relation, and said stool having means extending`into the seal and engaging the walls of said seal preventing movement of the walls of said seal relative to the walls of the stool and thereby prevent unlocking of said locking means, the walls of said seal closing the openings resulting from the forming of said locking element.

14. An expansion joint comprising in combination, a seal consisting of a piece of resilient material bent upon itself to provide a pair of spaced slab engaging walls each terminating in a flange extending outwardly therefrom, a stool for supporting said seal, said stool having spaced Walls and a flexible reinforcement for resisting the inward movement of said slab engaging walls, said reinforcement extending from and being supported by said stool and confined within the walls of said seal.

15. 'An expansion joint comprising two typical hairpin folds spaced back to back, each consisting of a piece ofA resilient material bent back upon itself to form two like inclined sides, then out to form shoulders and then'inwardly and down forming walls, thence outwardly at an acute angle to form laterally extending webs, the adjacent webs of one secured to the corresponding web of the other, providing means for forming a bond between said webs and material in which said webs are adapted to be embedded, and members providing a screed for each of said folds, said screed engaging and being supported by said first mentioned shoulders.

16. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a pair of seals and a member connecting said seals, each seal consisting of a piece of resilient material bent upon itself to provide spaced walls movable in relation to each other from said bend within said space, each of said seals and said member having an outwardly extending flange, said flanges of the seals and the flanges of said member having means forming a, connection between said seals and member to provide a unit comprised of a pair of said seals and said member, said anges providing means for keying said seals to a slab.

17. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a pair of seals connected with each other to provide a unit comprised of a pair of said seals, each seal consisting of a piece of resilient material bent upon itself to provide diverging spaced walls movable in relation to each other from said bend within said space, a ange connecting said seals with each other and extending outwardly relative to each of said walls and keying said joint to a slab.

18. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a pair of seals connected with each other to provide a unit comprised of a pair of said seals, each seal consisting of a piece of resilient material bent upon itself to provide spaced walls movable in relation to each other at said bend within said space, said material being bent to form a shoulder in each of said walls, said walls being extended downwardly and B0.

inwardly from said shoulders and having a flange extending outwardly relative to each of said walls, said flanges being apertured to provide means for keying said joint to a slab.

Y19. An expansion joint comprising the combination of a seal and a stool for supporting said seal, the joint so formed being of a length substantially equal to the width of the road slab, means for permitting of the yincreasing of the edge thickness of the road slab, said means adapted to be a'tlxed to and depend from said stool, so that the joint so formed will be extended through the increased slab thickne 20. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a compressible stool, a. metallic seal capping the upper edge thereof, and a. compressible shoe connected to the base of said stool, so that the joint so formed will be extended through and conform to the increased slab thickness.

21. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool, a seal capping an edge thereof, anda shoe mounted upon the base of the stool and extending lengthwise of and depending from the stool so that the joint so formed will be 105 extended through the increased slab thickness, without increasing the over-all length of the Y joint.

22. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool, a seal capping the upper edge thereof, said seal consisting of a piece of resilient material bent back upon itself to provide spaced walls movable inirelation to each other within said space and from said bend, and a shoe depending from the base of the stool, so that the joint so formed will be extended through the increased slab thickness, said joint having a flange, and said shoe having a groove for the reception-of the flange to effect the sliding attachmentof said shoe to the joint.

23.An expansion joint comprising the combination of a hairpin fold, a stool for supporting said fold, and a screed supported by said fold; said hairpin fold consisting of an expansible contractible member in the form of a resilient sheet 125 bent back upon itself substantially in the middle to form two like inclined sides, then out to form shoulders and then inwardly and down forming walls, thence outwardly at an acute angle to form laterally extending webs, providing means for forming a bond between said hairpin fold and material in which said webs are adapted to be embedded.

24. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool and a seal capping an edge thereof, the seal consisting of a piece ofresilient material bent singly upon itself to provide spaced walls extending beyond the confines of the stool, each wall being movable in relation to the other within said space and from said bend, a flange extending outwardly at the termination of each of said Walls, said flanges providing means for keying said seal to the concrete road and the like, and a shoulder arranged longitudinally of said walls on each wall between the bend and each of said flanges.

25. An expansion joint for connecting adjacent concrete slabs and the like comprising a stool and a seal capping an edge thereof, the seal consisting of a piece of resilient material bent singly upon itself at an acute angle to provide diverglng spaced walls extending partially beyond the ccniines of the stool, each wall being movable in relation to the other within said space and from said bend, said Aflanges providing means for keying said seal to the slab sections, and a shoulder arranged as an offset from each of said walls between the bend and each of said anges, and yielding filler interposed between said concrete sections and seal and over and above said seal.

26. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool, a seal capping an edge thereof, and a plastic member capping the seal,

vthe seal consisting of a piece of resilientl material bent singly upon itself at anacute angle to provide walls movable in relation to each other from said bend and from a point outside of the connes of the stool, thence bent outwardly forming shoulders, and then down and inwardly forming a continuation of the walls, and a alnge extending outwardly relative to each of said walls, said flanges providing means for keying said seal to the concrete road and the like.

27. A seal for joining adjacent monolithic sections of concrete comprising a strip of flexible material bentk to form relatively movable side walls, a flange extending outwardly from each of said side walls, each of said side Walls having a shoulder, said shoulders being located in a plane between the plane of the bend and the plane of y said anges.

28. A seal for joining adjacent monolithic sections of concrete comprising a strip of exible material bent singly intermediate its marginal edges, a pair of walls diverging from said bend and located upon opposite sides of a perpendicular plane intersecting the bend, a pair of flanges extending outwardly in a horizontal plane and in opposite directions and integral with and at the termination of said walls, and a shoulder located in each wall in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said flanges, the plane of the shoulders being positioned between the plane of the anges and the bend, said walls converging inwardly towards said perpendicular plane from said shoulders to the point of intersection of said walls and said anges. i

29. A seal for joining adjacent monolithic sections of concrete comprising a strip of flexible material bent to form relatively movable side walls, a flange extending outwardly from each of said side walls, each of said side walls having a shoulder, said shoulders being located in a plane between the plane of the bend and the plane of said flanges, and means cooperating with said seal for sealing a space between the ends of adjacent slabs, said shoulders providing a support for said means.

30. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool consisting of a pair of spaced walls, a flexible seal joining the upper edges thereof, a base to afford a stand for said stool, and a plurality of spaced tubular members extending through the walls of said stool and establishing a like number of apertures therethrough to accommodate the reinforcing steel as it is placed through the passage so formed, each of said tubular members individually engaging each of the respective walls of the stool to prevent the premature collapse of the stool during the setting of the joint and the pouring of the concrete.

31. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool, a flexible seal capping an edge thereof, and a plurality of spaced tubuinvasori lar members extending through said stool and establishing a like number of apertures therethrough to accommodate the reinforcing steel as it is placed through the passage so formed, said tubular members and the stool separably engaging each other to the extent of preventing the premature collapse of the stool during the setting of the joint and the pouring of the concrete.

32. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool consisting of a pair of spaced walls, a flexible seal joining the upper edges thereof, a base to afford a stand for said stool, a plurality of spaced tubular spreaders extending through the walls of said stool providing means for the reception of reinforcing rods, and providing means engaging. each of the walls of the stool preventing collapse of the stool during the setting of the joint and the pouring of the concrete, and a tubular shell afilxed to one end of each of said spreaders and extending beyond the confines of said stool and adapted to receive said reinforcing rods.

33. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool, a flexible seal capping an edge thereof, said seal consisting of a piece of resilient material bent back upon itself to provide spaced walls movable in relation to each other within said space and from said bend, a plurality of spaced tubular spreaders extending through the walls of said stool and establishing s, like number of apertures therethrough to accommodate the reinforcing steel as it is placed through the passage so formed, each of said tubular spreaders individually engaging the respective walls of the stool to prevent the premature im collapse of the stool during the setting of the joint and the pouring of the concrete, and a tubular shell afxed to one end of each of said spreaders and extending beyond the confines of sid stool and adapted to receive the reinforcing in@ s eel.

34. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool having spaced walls, a exible seal capping an edge thereof, a plurality of spaced spreaders extendingacross the space between the walls of the stool, a connection between the ends of said spreaders and the walls of the stool, said walls and said spreaders being formed to provide said connection, said connection resisting a predetermined force and preventing the premature collapse of the walls of the stool, said connection permitting separation of the spreaders and the walls of the stool upon the application of a force in excess of the rst mentioned force.

35. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising an open ended stool, a flexible seal closing the upper edge thereof, a base for said stool joining and closing the bottom thereof, a closure for the open ends of the joint, said closure having a portion connecting the walls of the stool, said closure compensating for the movement of the walls of the stool upon contraction and expansion of the slabs.

36. An end closure for closing the open ends of an expansion joint, said joint being comprised of spaced relatively movable side walls and a seal connecting said walls, said end closure having means compensating for the movement of the relatively movable side walls oi.' said joint.

37. A joint of the kind described, comprising the combination of a seal, an open ended stool having spaced walls supporting the seal, a closure for an open end of said stool, the walls of will said stool being formed to provide one element oi' a lock, the closure having means for engaging said lock element to secure the closure to said support. l

38. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a stool consisting of a pair of spaced walls, a flexible seal joining an edge thereof, flanges formed on the bottom edges of said walls to afford a stand therefor, and means slidably aixed to said flanges for locking the joint so formed to the forms employed in construction.

39. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like comprising a compressible stool, a, ilexible seal capping the upper edge thereof, said stool affording a stand therefor, and means slidably amxed to the under side of said stool for locking the joint so formed to the forms employed in construction.

40. An expansion joint comprising the combination of a seal, a stool for supporting said seal, and means for locking the respective ends of the joint to the forms employed in construction, said means being carried by and slidably aiiixed to the stool for movement longitudinally of the stool into functionally operative relation with the forms employed in construction.

ERIC E. HALL. WILLIAM H. EICHELMAN. 

